Original post: Alex Ovechkin played the final two games of the Capitals’ first-round series against New York with a hairline fracture in his left foot, according to a league source with direct knowledge of the winger’s injury.

Skating could not make the injury worse, the source said, so Ovechkin played with it through the rest of Game 6 and Game 7 against the Rangers. The fracture will only require rest to heal, the source said.

Ovechkin, who recorded one goal and one assist in the first-round series, took a combined six shots on goal and was credited with 16 hits in those two games combined. He skated 19:03 and 19:08 in Games 6 and 7, respectively, his lowest ice times of the series.

On Tuesday before he left for the World Championship, Ovechkin was asked if he played through any injuries during the postseason and downplayed concern.

“Couple bruises,” Ovechkin said, “But nothing major.”

General Manager George McPhee acknowledged that a few Capitals were playing through injuries in the postseason when asked on Wednesday, but declined to name the players or their ailments.

“Everybody does. You really admire these players because they play through some things – all the players around the league do – and they don’t need a medal to do it,” McPhee said. “They play through it and they don’t need any recognition or anything. They just do it.”

Below is video of the shift where Ovechkin blocked the two shots and fractured his foot.